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NFL Week 9 Power Rankings: Patriots on Top

Week 8 in the NFL saw many of the teams from the top 5 of last week’s NFL power rankings go down. In fact, the top two teams went down opening up room at the top for a new number one team in the latest Week 9 NFL Power Rankings.

As mentioned previously, New York and Pittsburgh both went down in addition to Tennessee and Houston losing. The Patriots, Colts, and Packers won their games while the Ravens, Falcons, and Giants were on a bye week.

It was bound to happen sooner or later. For one, two of the teams that lost in week 8 were to other teams within the top 10… somebody had to lose. Furthermore, the Pittsburgh Steelers had to play the defending Super Bowl champion, on the road, on Halloween, a huge night where New Orleans fans are always pumped. For those reasons, the teams in the top 10 will not jump around much, just their positioning.

Without further ado, here are the NFL Week 9 Power Rankings

1. New England Patriots

The Patriots have the best record, talented leadership, and a very strategic coach, all qualities that are worthy of the #1 position this week. Last week, the Patriots beat the Minnesota Vikings, 28 to 18 and will now shift their focus to a lowly Cleveland Browns team in week 9. Don’t look for the Pats to lose this one as they are already a 5 point road favorite according to the latest NFL betting odds.

2. Indianapolis Colts

Indianapolis took the sole lead in the AFC South last night by downing the Houston Texans, 30 to 17, a team they had previously lost to in week 1. In doing so, the Colts looked efficient however it’s clear they are going to need to get some healthy running backs if they want to continue being successful. Indianapolis will hope to have Joseph Addai back in the mix this weekend when the Colts travel to Philadelphia to face the Eagles. Currently, the Colts are considered a 3 point underdog on the road.

3. Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens will move up this week only by default. The Ravens did not play in week 8, and struggled to beat Buffalo in week 7. One is left to wonder how Baltimore will look coming out of the bye against a scrappy Miami Dolphins team. According to most online sportsbooks, the Ravens will be favored by 5 to 5.5 points by the time kickoff rolls around, however that could change. The Ravens are hosting the Dolphins, a factor which surely influenced the line this week.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers had a tough matchup on Sunday night against the defending champion New Orleans Saints, a game the Saints won, 20 to 10. According to most, this was the game of the week. One, because of the matchup. Two, because of the setting, Halloween night in New Orleans where the freaks come out! There is little fault to losing to the defending champs in that setting, for that reason Pittsburgh falls from #2 to #4. This week, Pittsburgh will play on Monday Night Football against the Cincinnati Bengals. Currently, the Steelers are a 4.5 point road favorite for this game.

5. New York Jets

The Jets slip from the top spot all the way down to #5 this week after being shutout at home by the Green Bay Packers, 9 to 0. This was hardly the performance the Jets were looking for coming out of the bye week. While the bye was beneficial for team health, the offense seemingly lost it’s rhythm. The defense was spot on and played well enough to win the game, however with no points from the offense, the task was nearly impossible. This week, the Jets travel to Detroit to meet the Lions. This could be a good matchup however the Jets are currently 4 point road favorites.

6. Atlanta Falcons

No change for the Falcons this week because they didn’t play. The Falcons will need to be careful as to not stumble coming out of the bye week as other teams have this year. On the week 9 schedule for the Falcons? The Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs are looking much better this year with Josh Freeman starting to play to potential. The Bucs are 5-2, same as the Falcons, however they do not have wins over quality teams. If the Falcons want to prove they belong, then they’ll beat the Bucs just as the Steelers and Saints have. Currently the Falcons are an 8 point home favorite.

7. New York Giants

Like Atlanta, the Giants did not play in week 8 and therefore will not move up in the week 9 power rankings. The Giants were playing extremely well going into the bye and will need to be sure to continue to play with the same intensity. This week, the Giants will fly across the country to meet a Seattle Seahawks team which has played very well at home. Also like the Falcons, the Giants can prove they belong further up the rankings with a convincing win over the Seahawks in a game which New York is favored by 5 to 5.5 points.

8. Green Bay Packers

The Packers defied the odds and went on the road and beat the vaunted New York Jets in New York. Three Mason Crosby field goals were the only points scored in the game, something the Packers will definitely want to work on heading into Week 9 against the Dallas Cowboys. Good news for the Packers, Dallas isn’t very good and their defense is nothing like the Jets. The Cowboys made Jaguars’ QB David Garrard look like Peyton Manning. Aaron Rodgers should be drooling to face this secondary. Oddsmakers realize this and have set the Green Bay Packers as 8 point home favorites for Sunday Night Football.

9. New Orleans Saints

The Saints came up huge on Halloween night by beating the Pittsburgh Steelers, 20 to 10. One could say it was “trick” for the Steelers and “treat” for Saints (cheesy… we know). Despite that quality win, it is still hard to shake the fact that the Saints lost at home to the Cleveland Browns just one week before. Things should be a little easier for the Saints in week 9 as they head to Carolina for a game with the Panthers. If the Saints are convincing in beating Panthers, look for them to move further up next week. If they lose, look for them out of the top 10 once again. Currently, the Saints a touchdown favorite on the road.

10. Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs keep finding ways to win and for that reason they’re back in the top 10, not the win against a win-less Buffalo team. Even though the Chiefs needed all 15 minutes of overtime to defeat the Bills, it takes sack to hang in that game and not just go down. Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles are doing great things in the run game and Cassell is doing a decent job of game management. That combined with some decent defense and you’ve got a recipe for success. Let’s see if the Chiefs keep it up in week 9 against an Oakland Raiders team that is playing very good ball, especially on offense. Going on the road to Oakland, the Chiefs are a 3 point underdog against the Raiders.